Keeping this short, because the time is approaching where I have to gear up in fursuit. I’m going to a Cosplay dance party as a firedog and my partner is going as the fire. Are you doing anything furry for halloween?

by Patch O'Furr

The show “Furries & Despair” features Ron Lussier’s fursuiter portraits, and Bobby Pin’s photos of Detroit. The gallery opening is Friday, November 7 in San Francisco. The press release has gone out, announcing a fursuit crawl to meet at the gallery. This is an excellent event to support and have fun with the public!

40 People already got tickets to our show through Eventbrite. 23 People are coming to the show through Facebook and 32 are maybes. I think it’s gonna be an event people are going to love and talk about for awhile 😛

Movies and video

It’s an ambitious, traditionally hand-drawn animated drama about captive dogs fighting for freedom. It has voice acting by George Foreman, and the indie spirit of a Ralph Bakshi movie. The director was super cool about providing a great interview to this blog. Storyboard progress is just posted, and he reports “Getting close to half the film (40 min) complete.” The new scene shows Max, the hero, lost on the dangerous streets of New York City.

Here’s the next fursuit music video you were expecting. NOA NEAL – FULL MOON PARTY.

Call it a modest trend. Here’s a “sexy video full of crazy Cosplayers, playful cheerleaders and a band of exuberant dancers.” It’s fromNoa Neal, a Dutch-born, Belgian pop singer since 2003. In 2009 she had a career boost from a talent show. Since 2012, she’s known for presenting kid’s content on Euro TV. In 2013 she moved to the US to write and record with a producer associated with Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen & Miley Cyrus. Her new single was recorded in London and produced in Finland. It might not be an Ylvis-style novelty hit, (let’s hope fursuiters don’t have to hear another song yelled at them), but it’s fluffy, harmless fun.

by Patch O'Furr

Fursuit portraiture is getting ambitious. It’s more than an inward-focused service just to make con-goers happy. It’s starting to be treated as documentary art to publish and put in galleries.

These photographers often give special focus to fursuiters, a sub-section of this subculture. Furry is about more than costumes, but it makes sense to emphasize their unique, non-replaceable fuzzy glamor. News media puts them in front of every furry story because it answers a “show, don’t tell” challenge.

The photo subjects come with fixed expressions, designed by their makers. Performance brings them to life. It’s a challenge to avoid stageyness in flat images of a tactile experience. The best photographers do it by putting something personal in the relationship – a signature approach.

Fursuit-makers don’t require outside notice to be cool. But this work isn’t “ogling”, it’s inspired from within. It’s win-win for both sides.

Here’s five photographers earning notice for their Furry documentary art. Update: added a sixth at bottom.(This is a nonprofit blog only sharing to promote artists- send questions here.)

by Patch O'Furr

Let’s be clear: Furry is an art and fiction thing, not a sex thing. It’s always been a sensitive topic. In the earliest days of organized furry conventions, many felt that they were derailed by advertising in bad places. Media exploitation and nasty “hit pieces” deepened resentments. Without forgetting this background, sex is a topic that can’t be dismissed.

Adult activity is one optional ingredient in a wide open collection of interests. Some furries prefer clean activity only. Some prefer adult. Many express both interests as part of life, in the right times and places.

Such personal interests don’t represent everyone, but they have value. Adult activities pushed limits to open new freedoms and rights. They’ve led advances that built the internet and alternative communities.

In San Francisco, some furry fans recognized a demand for adult-friendly space. An opportunity was caused by overflowing crowds at night life events, that don’t host adult activities. More opportunity came from an invite to join forces with a venue that does. The Citadel is a BDSM “dungeon” club, with a supportive community of 1000+ members. It invites other communities including leather and petplay together for this event.

Private parties happen among friends – but as far as I know, there’s never been a bold open-invite event promoted like this. The San Francisco Bay Area has a huge population of geeks and sex-positive subculture, making it more likely to work here than anywhere else. It’s caused attention and rumors among furries, bystanders and others. I reached out to “Wild Things” organizer Catarina to get the real scoop.

by Patch O'Furr

Here’s links, headlines and little bites of news to make your tail wag. Story tips are always welcome.

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Around Furry Fandom

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Fursuit auction reaches $8,025.

The “Lavender Corgi” is meant to resemble singer Justin Bieber. At the price, the buyer could have bought a complete boy band. Too bad they didn’t have enough to get the real singer skinned and sewn into a Biebsuit. (For the ultimate fan!) There’s an idea for a trashy horror comedy movie- call it “Fursploitation?”

by Patch O'Furr

Wild Things: at San Francisco’s Citadel club – November 8, 2014 (18+)

Artists and dealers are invited to show and sell your wares.
Info:(Ask me – patch.ofurr at gmail.)

I apologize in advance for humping your leg. It’s that exciting to share news about a unique, gutsy, sexy, creative, WTF happening for consenting adult friends. But first, have a soft intro.

Is furry a “sex thing?” It’s the #1 topic that furries love to hate. Some call it a myth spread by media exploitation. But the internet is bursting with self-generated erotica. Reddit’s r/yiff community has more subscribers than r/furry. The media doesn’t have enough imagination to be that dirty.

by Patch O'Furr

This kind of dance party is independent from cons. This builds on the growth of cons, and takes things farther. It’s more established than events that happen once, house parties or informal meets. Those can be inner-focused, or gather cliquish friends to only seek each other. This brings partnership with venues that aren’t hotels, and supportive interest in the kind of events they host and promote. It crosses a line to public space. A stranger may walk in off the street to discover their new favorite thing. It encourages new blood and crossover to other scenes.

See the list of parties atThe Furclub survey. Anyone that gives a Q&A will get their own article. Kelar tells you more…

Fox Trot Club in Denver, CO (2011 – now)

by Patch O'Furr

Furclubbing: “A repeat/regular nightclub event by furries for furries.” The concept has been spreading since the late 2000’s. This kind of dance party is independent from conventions. It builds on their growth but takes things farther. It’s more established than informal meets or events that happen once. Those can stay inner-focused for friends who already know each other. This brings partnership with new venues that want to support and host furries. It crosses into public space, so a stranger may walk in off the street and discover their new favorite thing. It encourages new blood and crossover. It makes a subculture thrive. There are connections to DJ and rave scenes. But this is its own unique movement!

Howl Toronto.

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The Survey Questions

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Any party that responds will get their own featured article! (Check back for new responses linked with party names below.) Do you know any others? Please share these questions to them, and send responses or tips to patch.ofurr@gmail.com.